Monument with Visitation Stone Receptacle

ABSTRACT

A monument includes a foundation member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces. The top surface includes a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces. The monument further includes a memorial message portion disposed on the top surface, and a visitation stone receptacle. The visitation stone receptacle includes a receptacle opening flush with the top surface, and a plurality of receptacle side portions. The receptacle base portion forms a base for a recessed volume. The base is configured to receive one of a) an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle, or b) a visitation stone.

INTRODUCTION

The subject disclosure relates to memorials, and more particularly, to a flat gravestone memorial having a visitation stone receptacle configured to store visitation stones.

BACKGROUND

For earth burials, maintenance of the burial site may be difficult when caring for lawn and other vegetation growing around a burial site when the gravestone includes memorial items left by visitors. Some religious traditions may include leaving items at the grave site that are intended for long-term and/or permanent storage at the site. While such storage of memorial items may not be problematic for above-ground monuments such as headstones positioned vertically, perpendicular to the surface of the ground, in some burial scenarios, the burial site vegetation maintenance may be problematic when the monument is a flat gravestone configured to be generally flush with the surface of the ground.

Lawn-level or flat gravestone monuments are sometimes used at burial sites to make routine maintenance easier. For example, monuments can be configured to be generally flush with the surface of the ground for ease of lawn maintenance, where a lawn mower may trim vegetation by rolling over the flat gravestone burial site. This style of monument eases burial site maintenance by allowing the equipment to navigate over the burial site by simply mowing over the flat monuments during routine maintenance, rather than detouring around them.

Some religious traditions may include depositing small items on the flat monument gravestone at the burial site. In some Jewish traditions, for example, a small stone, commonly referred to as a visitation stone, is left by a visitor when the burial site is visited. The visitation stone is traditionally left at the burial site as a token of remembrance.

However, when the site undergoes routine maintenance, lawn equipment such as a lawn mower, when rolling over the flat gravestone, may strike any extant visitation stones or other small items stored on a top surface of the flat gravestone. Striking the stones/items with the rotating mowing equipment often causes the stones to be thrown at a high velocity. The flying stones may strike and damage the memorial, damage the maintenance equipment, or injure maintenance personnel or a bystander.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flat gravestone monument with a receptacle configured to store visitation stones in a manner that mitigates possible damage to people, the monument and monument maintenance equipment, and provides for safer and routine maintenance of the burial site.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, a 1 flat gravestone monument includes a foundation member having a top surface parallel to the ground, a bottom surface parallel to the ground, and a plurality of edge surfaces perpendicular to the ground. The top surface includes a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces. The monument further includes a memorial message portion disposed on the top surface, and a visitation stone receptacle recessed underneath. The visitation stone receptacle includes a receptacle opening flush with the top surface, and a plurality of receptacle side portions. The receptacle base portion forms a base for a recessed volume. The base is configured to receive one of a) an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle, or b) a visitation stone.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the visitation stone receptacle includes a receptacle base portion disposed approximately parallel to the top surface.

In another exemplary embodiment, the receptacle base portion is formed by a surface of the foundation member.

In another exemplary embodiment, the receptacle base portion includes a drain channel having an opening on the surface of the receptacle base portion and extending through the foundation member.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the receptacle base portion includes a surface other than a foundation member surface.

In another exemplary embodiment, the monument further includes a memorial message disposed on the memorial message portion.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the memorial message is disposed on a metallic memorial plate, and the memorial plate is rigidly attached to the foundation member.

In another exemplary embodiment, the memorial message is carved in the foundation member.

In another exemplary embodiment, the monument is comprised of stone.

In another exemplary embodiment, the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 2 inches.

In another exemplary embodiment, the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 1.5 inches.

In another exemplary embodiment, the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 0.5 inches.

In another exemplary embodiment, the monument is configured to be disposed in a ground surface cavity such that a top surface is approximately parallel with a ground surface proximate to the monument when installed in the ground surface cavity.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of storing a visitation stone or an insert in a monument is described. The method includes positioning a foundation member in a ground cavity such as a pocket in the surface of the ground at a burial site. The foundation member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces. The top surface has a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces. A memorial message portion is disposed on the top surface. The method further includes orienting a visitation stone receptacle opposite to the ground surface. This can include orienting a receptacle opening flush with the top surface. When oriented accordingly, the receptacle base portion forms a base for a recessed volume configured to receive one of a) an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle, or b) the visitation stone.

According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of fabricating a flat gravestone monument is described. This method can include fabricating a foundation member from stone or metal. The foundation member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces, where the top surface includes a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces. The method further includes forming, by removing material from the foundation member, a visitation stone receptacle. This step can include forming a receptacle opening flush with the top surface. When manufactured accordingly, the visitation stone receptacle includes a receptacle base portion forming a base for a recessed volume. The recessed volume is to receive one of a) an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle, or b) a visitation stone.

Aspects of the present disclosure may provide for a product, process for manufacturing the product, and a method of using the product, where the product solves a long-felt need for a system that provides for maintenance around burial site monuments using lawncare and other equipment such that visitation stones are not lost, damaged, or cause damage to the memorial, maintenance equipment, or other people due to being struck by the equipment.

The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an example maintenance operation for a conventional monument.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary flat gravestone monument with a visitation stone receptacle in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of the monument of FIG. 2, having a plurality of visitation stones stored therein in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a front section view of the monument of FIG. 2, where the visitation stone receptacle includes a concave base for storing at least one visitation stone in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5. depicts another front section view of the monument of FIG. 2, having an insert stored therein in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a front section view of a monument in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram for an exemplary method for manufacturing a monument having an integrated visitation stone receptacle in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

FIG. 1 depicts an example maintenance operation for a conventional flat gravestone monument. Maintenance equipment 105 such as, for example, lawn mowing equipment, trimming equipment, or other types of equipment are routinely used for maintenance of burial grounds. As shown in FIG. 1, many burial sites can include in-ground monuments such as a lawn-level flat gravestone monument 115, which may have a portion buried in a pocket of the ground surface 120, while a shallow portion extends above the surface of the ground. Some cemeteries may utilize such monuments to facilitate maintenance of the cemetery grounds. For example, it is common to operate equipment directly over the flat gravestone monument, which allows large areas to be maintained without having to steer around flat monuments and other items.

In some religious traditions it is common to leave small objects at the burial site during the burial ceremony and/or during visitation after burial. The act of placing visitation stones 110 is significant in Jewish bereavement practices. The small visitation stones 110 may be placed by visitors of Jewish graves, among other religious traditions, in an act of remembrance or respect for the deceased. With respect to such practices in Judaism, the practice is a way of participating in the mitzvah of burial. After some time and many visits, a significant collection of visitation stones may collect on the monument.

One significant issue exists for such practices during times of routine gravesite maintenance, when the maintenance equipment 105 operates directly over the monument 115 and visitation stones 110. As the maintenance equipment 105 passes over the monument 115, rotating blades (not shown in FIG. 100) may strike the visitation stones 110 when they are stored directly on top of the monument 115. The equipment may inadvertently cause damage to the monument 115, and/or the maintenance equipment may become damaged by striking the stones. Moreover, as the bereaved bring visitation stones as a sign of their remembrance, the intent is to make the stones a memorial and permanent part of the monument. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a monument having an integrated visitation stone receptacle, wherein the visitation stones may be placed without risk of harm to the monument or maintenance equipment during routine maintenance operations.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary monument 200 having a visitation stone receptacle 220, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The monument 200 may include a foundation member 205 having a top surface 210, a bottom surface (not shown in FIG. 2) disposed on an opposite side to the top surface 210, and a plurality of edges 230A, 230B, etc. The monument 200 is considered to be a lawn-level monument, as it is customarily installed in a shallow pocket of earth (as depicted, for example, in FIG. 1), such that the top surface 210 remains visible as it faces the sky when installed, and a portion of the edge portions 230 are buried under the earth. Accordingly, the top surface 210 includes a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface (e.g., 230A, or 230B, etc.) of the plurality of edge portions 230.

The monument 200 may include and/or be constructed of various materials including, for example, stone, metal, cement, polymer, or other such materials that may be used to construct monuments.

The monument 200 further includes a memorial message portion 215, wherein a memorial message may be included either by attaching a separate plate (not shown in FIG. 2) that includes the memorial message, by engraving or printing directly on the top surface 210 of the foundation member 205, or by other means known in the art of monument fabrication. The memorial message may include, for example, a name of a decedent or decedents, dates, symbols, pictorial representations of people and objects, etc.

The monument 200 further includes a visitation stone receptacle 220 disposed on the top surface 210 of the monument. The visitation stone receptacle 220 may include a receptacle opening flush with the top surface 210, and a plurality of receptacle side portions 240, which may be disposed perpendicular to the top surface 210, or disposed at an angle to the top surface 210. The visitation stone receptacle forms a volume or cavity (also referred to herein as a recessed volume) inside which visitation stones may be stored when in use.

The visitation stone receptacle 220 may be configured in various ways. For example, in one embodiment, the visitation stone receptacle 220 may be configured as a blind pocket having a base portion (as shown in FIG. 3), which may form a base for a recessed volume integrated with the foundation member 205. The recessed volume may be configured to receive a visitation stone (not shown in FIG. 2), or an insert 225, when not storing a visitation stone.

In one embodiment, the base portion, which may be formed by a bottom surface of the visitation stone receptacle blind pocket, may be approximately parallel to the top surface 210.

In another embodiment, the base portion forming the bottom of the blind pocket may be milled and/or otherwise formed as having a concave shape. FIG. 4 depicts one example of such a concave shape. One advantage of a concave shape may include providing a deeper portion for storing larger diameter visitation stones, while providing shallower portions of the visitation stone receptacle for storing smaller diameter stones.

As depicted in FIG. 2, the base of the visitation stone receptacle may be formed by a surface of the foundation member 205. For example, the visitation stone receptacle blind pocket may form the base of the visitation stone receptacle. In other embodiments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5) the base of the visitation stone receptacle is formed by another surface that is not the foundation member 205. For example, the monument 200 may be installed, when in use, in a shallow pocket of earth, whereby the base of the visitation stone receptacle is earth, or a substrate in which the monument 200 may be positioned.

The insert 225 is dimensionally similar to the visitation stone receptacle 220 such that it may fit inside of the recessed volume of the visitation stone receptacle 220, whereby the insert 225 fills the cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle 220. When disposed on the foundation member 205 (e.g., when the insert 225 is installed as shown in FIG. 4), the insert top portion 245 is disposed approximately parallel to the top surface 210 of the foundation member 205. This feature may allow the cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle 220 to be filled by the insert 225 when visitation stones are not stored in the monument 200.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of the monument of FIG. 2 having a plurality of visitation stones stored therein, in accordance with one or more embodiments. A plurality of visitation stones 110 are illustrated as being installed in the visitation stone receptacle 220. FIG. 3 illustrates the receptacle opening 305 of the visitation stone receptacle 220 being flush with the top surface 210 of the foundation member 205. Also depicted is a receptacle base portion 310 forming a base for a recessed volume of the visitation stone receptacle 220. The visitation stones 110 may be disposed on the receptacle base portion 310.

The receptacle base portion 310 may be configured in various ways so as to provide adequate room for visitation stones of various sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the receptacle base portion 310 is disposed approximately parallel to the top surface 210. A depth dimension 315 may be configured to accept stones of various sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the depth dimension 315 may be approximately 3 inches deep from the top surface 210, where a sphere having a radius of 1.5 inches may be stored on the receptacle base portion 310 without extending past the top surface 210. In another embodiment, the depth dimension 315 is approximately 1 inch deep, whereby a sphere having a radius of 0.5 inches may fit in the visitation stone receptacle 220 without extending past the top surface 210. In another example embodiment, the depth dimension 315 is approximately 4 inches deep, where a sphere having a radius of 2 inches may fit in the visitation stone receptacle 220 without extending past the top surface 210. In these examples, it should be appreciated that a spherical radius represents an example maximum size for a single visitation stone that would dimensionally fit within a particular spherical radius without extending above the top surface 210 when stored in the monument 200. It should be appreciated that these example depths are provided as examples only, and thus, are not exhaustive or meant to be limiting. Other depths for the pocket forming the visitation stone receptacle 220 are possible, and such depths are contemplated.

Moreover, the visitation stone receptacle 220 is depicted as being generally rectangular in shape. It should be appreciated that the visitation stone receptacle 220 may take other shapes as well, such as an ovaloid, a circle, or another geometric shape.

FIG. 4 depicts another example embodiment for the monument. In the example depicted in FIG. 4, the base 410 of the visitation stone receptacle 220 is concave, whereby a deeper depth dimension 415 may allow for larger visitation stones. In the example depicted in FIG. 4, it should be appreciated that the monument 400 further includes an insert (not shown in FIG. 4) having a convex surface matching the concave base 410.

FIG. 5. depicts another front section view of an exemplary monument 500, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. In one aspect, the monument 500 is illustrated having an insert 525 stored in the recessed volume of the visitation stone receptacle. In one aspect, the top surface of the insert 545 is approximately flush/parallel with a top surface 510 of the foundation member 505.

In one embodiment, the receptacle base portion of the monument 500 may further include at least one drain channel 515 having an opening on a surface of the receptacle base portion and extending through the foundation member 505. The drain channels allow water that may collect in the receptacle to drain through to the ground, and thus, avoid degrading the monument 200 through natural processes of freezing and thawing.

FIG. 6 depicts a front section view of another exemplary monument 600, in accordance with one or more embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the visitation stone receptacle may be a through-channel in the receptacle base portion 610. This aspect may provide for ease of drainage, and may accommodate storage of larger visitation stones, and/or a greater volume of visitation stones. Accordingly, the receptacle base portion 610 comprises a surface other than a foundation member 605 surface, such as a surface of the earth or substrate on which the monument 600 may be installed when in use.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram for an exemplary method 700 for manufacturing a monument having an integrated visitation stone receptacle in accordance with one or more embodiments.

At step 705, the method 700 includes forming a foundation member from stone, metal, aggregate, polymer, or another suitable material. This step may include fabrication of the base portion by cutting, milling, grinding, or performing another manufacturing operation to form the foundation member. Although shown as generally rectangular with respect to FIGS. 2-6, it should be appreciated that the monument may take any shape that is generally flat on a sky-facing surface (e.g., the surface on which the memorial message is to be displayed when complete).

This step may further include fabricating a memorial message on a metallic or other material by cutting, grinding, milling, sand blasting, molding, printing, or another process. This step may further include rigidly fastening said plate to the foundation member using screws, bolts, adhesive, mastic, or another fastening means appropriate for material connections.

At step 710, the method 700 may include creating a visitation stone receptacle portion my removing material from the foundation member, and forming a pocket having an opening flush with a top surface of the foundation member. The method may include milling, chipping, cutting, grinding, sand blasting, drilling, and/or performing other manufacturing steps that remove material from the foundation member.

At step 715, the method 700 may further include deepening a cavity for the visitation stone receptacle portion, and thus, forming a blind pocket having a base for a recessed volume. In another embodiment, this step may be replaced with a step that removes all material in the cavity for the visitation stone receptacle portion, wherein a through-hole is left having no base portion.

At step 720, the method 700 may further include fabricating an insert that is approximately dimensionally equivalent to the visitation stone receptacle portion such that, when installed, a top portion of the insert is flush with a top surface of the foundation member when insert is installed in the visitation stone receptacle.

In some embodiments, the monument may include drainage holes. Accordingly, at step 725, the method 700 may further include the step of removing material from the foundation member to create one or more drainage holes at a base of the blind pocket.

While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof 

What is claimed is:
 1. A memorial comprising: a foundation member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces, the top surface having a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces; a memorial message portion disposed on the top surface; and a visitation stone receptacle comprising: a receptacle opening flush with the top surface; and a plurality of receptacle side portions; and a receptacle base portion forming a base for a recessed volume, wherein the recessed volume is configured to receive one of: an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle; or a visitation stone.
 2. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the visitation stone receptacle further comprises: a receptacle base portion disposed approximately parallel to the top surface.
 3. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle base portion is formed by a surface of the foundation member.
 4. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle base portion comprises a drain channel comprising an opening on a surface of the receptacle base portion and extending through the foundation member.
 5. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle base portion comprises a surface other than the foundation member surface.
 6. The memorial according to claim 1, further comprising: the insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle.
 7. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein, when disposed on the receptacle base portion, an insert top portion of the insert is disposed approximately parallel to the top surface of the foundation member.
 8. The memorial according to claim 1, further comprising a memorial message disposed on a memorial message portion.
 9. The memorial according to claim 8, wherein the memorial message is disposed on a metallic memorial plate; and wherein the metallic memorial plate is rigidly attached to the foundation member.
 10. The memorial according to claim 8, wherein the memorial message is carved into the foundation member.
 11. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the memorial is comprised of stone.
 12. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 2 inches.
 13. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 1.5 inches.
 14. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the visitation stone dimensionally fits in a sphere having a radius of 0.5 inches.
 15. The memorial according to claim 1, wherein the memorial is configured to be disposed in a ground surface cavity such that a top surface is approximately parallel with a ground surface proximate to the memorial when installed in the ground surface cavity.
 16. A method for storing a visitation stone a memorial comprising: positioning, in a ground cavity, a foundation member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces, the top surface having a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces, wherein a memorial message portion is disposed on the top surface; and orienting, opposite to a ground surface, a visitation stone receptacle by: forming a receptacle opening flush with the top surface; and forming a plurality of receptacle side portions, wherein the receptacle base portion forms a base for a recessed volume configured to receive one of an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle, or the visitation stone.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the visitation stone receptacle further comprises: a receptacle base portion disposed approximately parallel to the top surface.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the receptacle base portion comprises a surface of the foundation member.
 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the receptacle base portion comprises a drain channel comprising an opening on a surface of the receptacle base portion and extends through the foundation member.
 20. A method of fabricating a memorial comprising: fabricating a foundation member from stone or metal, the foundation member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of edge surfaces, the top surface having a top dimensional area that exceeds an edge dimensional area of any edge surface of the plurality of edge surfaces; and forming, by removing material from the foundation member, a visitation stone receptacle comprising a receptacle opening flush with the top surface; wherein the visitation stone receptacle comprises a receptacle base portion forming a base for a recessed volume, the recessed volume configured to receive one of: an insert configured to fill a cavity formed by the visitation stone receptacle; or a visitation stone. 